Second Lieutenant Robert Clements

Second Lieutenant Robert Cooper Clements, 1st/4th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France, aged 35, on 8th August 1918. He was the son of Robert and Agnes Clements and the husband of Minnie Clements of 1 Wilson’s Terrace, Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed. He is buried in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France and his headstone is inscribed ” I Go On A Great And Glorious Mission”. The Battle of Amiens on 8th August 1918 was the beginning of the final 100 days of the War and the photographs show allied troops advancing after the retreating German Army. The colour photo shows the impressive Memorial raised to commemorate the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion had been part until February 1918 when it was transferred to the 42nd ( East Lancashire ) Division as the Pioneer Battalion. It was erected near the village of Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby at St. Julien the Division had fought its first action of the War on 26th April 1915 only days after landing on the Continent.